Lorenz Janssen

Hawarden, Iowa~ Lorenz John Janssen, 98, of Hawarden, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at the Hillcrest Health Care Services in Hawarden.
Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Trinity Lutheran Church LCMS in Hawarden with Rev. Todd Bunge officiating. Private family interment will follow in the Grace Hill Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon Monday, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. followed by visitation with the family until 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden. Online condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. The Janssen family prefers memorials be directed to benefit the Trinity Lutheran Church.

Lorenz John Janssen was born August 24th, 1916 near Ireton, Iowa to Henry and Frances (Meyer) Janssen. Lorenz was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church (rural Le Mars) by his grandfather, The Reverend J.D. Meyer. He married Bernice Van Wyhe in Ireton on June 4, 1941 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. They resided in Granville, Iowa for eighteen months and then farmed near Ireton and Hudson, South Dakota until retiring to Hawarden in 1984. Lorenz was a devoted member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawarden for over 70 years (one of its oldest members). He was quite active at Trinity, where he held several offices, was a lamplighter and a member of the Lutheran Laymen's League. He served on several rural school boards, the Senior Citizen's Board/County Board and he and Bernice delivered Meals on Wheels for many years.
Lorenz loved his family, farming, playing cards and visiting with friends. He was known for his wit and sense of humor.
He is survived by his children, Marlin (Barb) Janssen of Hawarden and Janet (Brad) Hanson of Westminster, Colorado; daughter-in-law, Linda (Glendon) Peterson, of LeMars, Iowa; six grandchildren: Staci Birmes of Hawarden, Lori Janssen of Seattle, Washington, Amy (Pat) Smith of Waukee, Iowa, Scott (Jen) Janssen of Columbia, Illinois, Kelli (Jason) Poppenhagen of Aurora, Colorado, and Kyle (Caitlin) Hanson of Anchorage, Alaska; nine great-grandchildren; four sisters, Marie Van Roekel of Phoenix, Arizona, Martha Vander Tuig of LeMars, Leona (Bill) Lancaster of Springfield, Missouri and Dorothy (Eugene) Hanson of Cathedral City, California; one brother, Fred Janssen of Beaverton, Oregon; and several nieces and nephews.
Lorenz was preceded in death by Bernice, his wife of 65 years; his son, Richard; two great- granddaughters, Brooklyn Janssen and Grace Poppenhagen; grandson-in-law, Dennis Birmes; two brothers, Alfred and his wife Joann and Elmer Janssen; and two brothers-in-law, Bernie Van Roekel and George Vander Tuig.
This obituary was written by Lorenz and Bernice in preparation for their journey home.